Thanksgiving: Day and Traditions | HISTORYSkip to contentShowsThis Day In HistoryScheduleTopicsStoriesHistory ClassicsLive TVYour ProfileYour ProfileHistoryFind History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)Email UpdatesLive TVHistory ClassicsShowsThis Day In HistoryScheduleTopicsStoriesVideosHistory PodcastsHistory VaultHomeTopicsThanksgivingThanksgivingThanksgiving, which occurs on the fourth Thursday in November, is based on the colonial Pilgrims' 1621 harvest meal. The holiday continues to be a day for Americans to gather for a day of feasting, football and family. TopicsFeaturedThanksgiving 2024Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States, and Thanksgiving 2023 occurs on Thursday, November 23. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies.Read moreRead more about Thanksgiving 2024Thanksgiving: Fact or Fiction“The reason that we have so many myths associated with Thanksgiving is that it is an invented tradition. It doesn’t originate in any one event. It is based on the New England puritan Thanksgiving, which is a religious Thanksgiving, and the traditional harvest celebrations of England and New England and maybe other ideas like commemorating […]Read moreFirst Thanksgiving MealThanksgiving Turkey While no records exist of the exact bill of fare, the Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow noted in his journal that the colony’s governor, William Bradford, sent four men on a “fowling” mission in preparation for the three-day event: “Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we […]Read moreFlashback: A Patriotic Thanksgiving in 1950s AmericaVideosSee All3:30 minTV-GPlayFeaturedThanksgiving TurkeyDeep frying turkeys is a southern trend that is now spreading across the United States.Watch nowWatch now video about Thanksgiving Turkey2:38 minTV-GFirst Thanksgiving MealFind out which traditional recipes weren’t served at the first Thanksgiving celebrationWatch now3:15 minTV-PGThanksgiving Day Parade TechAt the Macy’s Studio in Hoboken, NJ, technicians work year round to construct floats and balloons for the Thanksgiving Day Parade.Watch now2:01 minTV-PGThanksgiving Becomes a HolidayEarly Puritans observed Thanksgiving days of prayer, but Sarah Josepha Hale’s crusade for a national day of thanks is what ultimately gave us Thanksgiving.Watch nowStoriesSee AllFeaturedHow the First Thanksgiving College Football Game Kicked Off a Holiday TraditionIn 1876, Yale beat Princeton before a sparse crowd. By the mid-1880s, their annual contest was a major social event that attracted thousands of fans in New York.Read moreRead more about How the First Thanksgiving College Football Game Kicked Off a Holiday TraditionWhat’s the Difference Between Puritans and Pilgrims?Both sought a different religious practice than what the Church of England dictated, but they were otherwise distinct groups of people.Read moreThe Pilgrims’ Miserable Journey Aboard the MayflowerDuring their two-month journey to America, the Mayflower’s passengers faced cramped quarters, rough seas, limited food and numbing cold.Read moreWho Was Squanto, and What Was His Role in the First Thanksgiving?Without Squanto, a.k.a. Tisquantum, to interpret and guide them to food sources, the Plymouth Colony Pilgrims may have never have survived.Read moreA+E NetworksOur Family of BrandsHistory EducationHistory VaultMobile/AppsNewsShare Your OpinionFollow Historydpm+BiographyCrime and InvestigationHistory en EspanolLRWMilitary HistoryAd ChoicesAdvertise With UsAccessibility SupportCopyright PolicyCorporate InformationEmployment OpportunitiesFAQ/Contact UsPrivacy NoticeCookie NoticeTerms Of UseTV Parental GuidelinesContact UsCopyright PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseAd ChoicesAccessibility Support© 2024, A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.